In reality, if we analyze, Xi has been performing exceptionally well, if not for the world; he has been a bright performer concerning the Communist Party’s agenda for China, its global dominance, particularly what is in front of it on the military side. He might have performed well in terms of boosting China’s economy, but those looking at it from the outside feel otherwise. More than growth, they see an increase and proactivity in China’s ‘unexpected behavior’ on the military as well as the economic front, because it continues to believe and practice the ancient principle of looking at the east and striking at the west.
It is quite evident that like Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Xi is also falling into the trap of a strong-man syndrome problem because of his successful attempts of being able to clean his political opponents in sustained anti-corruption campaigns; silencing dissenting voices within the party, and much more. In a sense, he has accumulated entire power. As of now, in China, what Xi thinks is better, sees implementation; the internal policy debate which always worked towards finer solutions stands decimated and what galore is the non-involvement of those who matter in the key political decisions. Rightly referred to as ‘echo chambers’, that is what the internal policy circles have been reduced to in China.
What happens within has got to manifest without and that is what is seen coming out of China. The same is not going to change with Xi getting to have another term in office, rather, his extensions, as the head of the CPC is going to strengthen what China believes in. It is likely that in days to come, things are going to be more erratic and unexpected, be it foreign affairs or trade for the world, especially the west, in general, and for India, in particular, because even though there has been disengagement on LAC in eastern Ladakh, but what happened in Galwan earlier was showcased as one of the biggest achievement by Xi before the Communist Congress while the PLA Galwan commander was seen sitting as a delegate. Shouldn’t this be enough for India to see what could be on the way?
